Collapsible cellular partition for containers



April 24, 1951 w. c. GEORGE COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR PARTITION FOR CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 15. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HIS ATTORNEYS.

April 24, 1951 w, C, GEORGE 2,549,799

COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR PARTITION FR CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 24, 1951 w; c. GEORGE COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR PARTITION' FOR CONTAINERS F'ledSept. l5 1947 4 Shets-Sheet 5 HIS ATTORNEYS Aprilv24, 1951 w. c. GEORGE COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR PARTITION FOR CONTAINERS 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. l5 1947 lNvENToR;

His ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 24, 1951 y`l.ll\lI""l"l"D STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE CLLULAR PARTITION FORv CONTAINERS Walter C. George, St. Lou-is, Mo., assignor to Gaylord Container Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a Acorporation of Maryland Application September 15, 1947, Serial No. 774,019

7 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible cellular str-ip type 'partitions for containers, particularly bottle cartons.

Theinvention has for its principal object to provide a partition oi the above type that is strong and durable, simple and economical and may bequickly and easily permanently assembled in collapsed flat compact form for shipment or storage and readily set up for use. Other oh- ,i'ects are to provide for permanently securing the partition strips together without the use of stitching 'or mechanical fasteners, to provide for horizontal ventilation through the bottle-cells and tor jcushicming the bottles therein. The inventien consists in the collapsible striptype ycellulair v:bottle carton partition and in the construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specincation and wherein like sym- 'bols refer to like parts where-ver they occur,

Fig. l isa plan view of the eight partition strips trom which a twenty-four bottle cell 'partition embodying my invention is made, the strips being 'shown-in 'the longitudinal vpositions and in toptobottorn order 'which they occupy in the as- 'seiribled partition,

Fig. 2i.; a plan view of the partition in open or set-up position,

Fig. '3 is aside elevational view of the set-up partition,

Fig. rl an 4end elevational view of the set-up partition,

Fig. `5 is a vertical cross-sectional View on the line tes-f5 in 2,

=Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 6 6 in Fig. 2,

Figs. "7 and 8 are fragmentary horizontal crosssectional views on the lines l-Jl and 8-8, Vrespectively, in Fig. 3,

-l'igs. 9 and V1-0 are plan views looking at opposite sides of kthe Acollapsed partition,

lFig. llis a side edge 'elevational view of the collapsed partition shown in Fig. 10,

i'g., l2 is `'a plan view showing the partition partially opened, l

Fig. V1'3 is a Vfran-,fmertary horizontal cross-sectional view Asimilar to Fig. 'L8 through a partition of a-xnodi-ed form,

` lll vis `a 'vertical sectional view on the line Nif-H in Fig. 13'; and

F'g'. ll5 'is 'a yfragin'entary sectional view of the 'par tion `shown 1-3 and. 14, showing the ma ner in'which the bott-le cushioning bosses of adjacent partition strip panels seat vone within 2 another in the fully collapsed position of said partition.

My collapsible cellular bottle separating partition `is, made of eight partition strips of corrugated board, iiberboard or other bend-able material; namely, two counterpart strips A, two counterpart strips B, two counterpart strips C and two counterpart strips D, said strips increasing in length from the strips A to the strips D. All of the partition lstrips are provided with one or .more substantially `:Ew-shaped cross slits I and eut scores 2 extending from the ends `of said slits to the side marginal edges thereof, thereby for-ming counterpart end panels 3 on all of said strips and two -or more intermediate panels 4 o-n the strips B, C and D depending on the length thereof. The reverse loops at the ends of the S-shaped slits I form at the inner ends of scores 2 notches 5 with tongues t snugly fitting therein. As shown in Figs. 1, 9 and l0, 'the end panels 3 -oi all of the kstrips have a notch t and a ton-gue at inner edges that are spaced apart transversely of said strips; and the intermediate panels il have similarly arranged notches and tongues along two 'opposite edges. The number of intermediate panels 4 increases with the increased length 'oi the strips. For a twenty-four bottle partition, the strips B are provided with two intermediate panels, the strips C with fou-r intermediate panels and the strips D with ve intermediate panels.

As shown in Fig. 9, 10 and 11, the above strips are stack-ed or laid iiatwise one on another with the two strips A located one at the top and r'the other at the bottom. The `two strips B are located -one neX-t to each strip A, the two strips C are located one next to each strip B, andthe two strips D are located next to one another and between the two strips C. The strips are offset longitudinally in the stack in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 9, 10 and l1 with their transverse score lines in register vertically. As shown in Fig. 1, the strips of each pair A, B, C and -D are reversed so that the corresponding tongues of adjacent strips extend in opposite directions. With the strips thus arranged, the tongues 6 of each strip are adhesively Vor otherwise permanently secured atwise to the strip or strips in contact therewith, the tongues of each of the intermediate strips B,

VC Vand D being secured in alternation lengthwise rst to one and then to the other of the two Strips in contact with opposite sides thereof.

The collapsed strip type partition above devscribed is adapted to be opened or set up to form a ltwenty-four cell bottle 'partition by pulling in opposite directions on `the two outermost strips A until all o the strips are bent at right angles along each of the score lines thereof, the longer strips B, C and D being bent in zigzag fashion. The strips when bent into such position form three-sided bottle cells or compartments around the four sides o1 the partition and four-sided cells or compartments within the space bounded -by the open-sided marginal cells or compartments. In the set-up position of the collapsible partition, the tongues 6 of all of the strips are not bent but remain in their original planes; that is, in the plane of the body of the strip. Two vertically spaced tongues are located at each corner of each bottle cell or compartment and extend straight from one compartment into another through the notches 5 vacated by the tongues when the strips are bent along the score lines into compartment-forming position.

In the construction shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the cell or compartment-forming panels of the strips are provided with vertical rows of hollow bottle cushioning bosses 'i arranged in two alternating series from top to bottom of the partition, the bosses of one series projecting on one side of the panels and the bosses of the other series projecting on the other sides thereof. The bosses 'i are pressed in the panels from opposite sides thereof and are of the same size and shape so that when the partition is collapsed the bosses of each panel will enter the bosses of the ad- 1 jacent panel in contact therewith, thereby permitting the superimposed strips of the collapsed partition to seat directly one on the other without any space therebetween.

The hereinbeiore described collapsible cellular bottle partition has many important advantages. It is simple and inexpensive and can be readily assembled into compact collapsed form for shipment or storage. The partition may be readily erected merely by pulling endwise in opposite directions on the two outermost strips A, all of the strips being readily bendable along the score lines thereof. The tongues of each strip are permanently secured flatwise to the strips in oontact therewith and lie stiff and straight in the planes of the panels from which they extend and against the panels to which they are connected when the partition is erected, thereby increasing the strength and rigidity of the erected partition and preventing the strips from curling or bowing.

The consruction provides reinforcing, stiifening and connecting tongues at the top and bottom of each corner of each cell or compartment in the set-up partition and the openings formed in the panels by the tongues struck therefrom provide both longitudinal and cross ventilation through the set-up partition. The bosses formed in the panels which form the side walls of the bottle cells or compartments serve as cushions to prevent breakage of the bottles and the nesting of these hollow bosses in the collapsed ypartition enables the strips to lie flatwise against each other and thus hold the thickness of the collapsed partition to a minimum. Another advantage of the present construction is that the S-shaped tongue and Ventilating opening forming slits are mere cuts instead of slots and thus do not produce paper dust which tends to settle in the bottles when they are placed in the compartments oi the partition for illing.

Obviously, the hereinbeiore described bottle partition admits of considerable modication without departing from the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible cellular partition for containers comprising a plurality of superimposed partition strips provided with cross slits and score lines eX- tending from the ends of said slits to the side marginal edges oi said strips, said slits and score linesv dividing thesaid strips into a series of cross panels, the slits of each strip being shaped to form tongues in the plane thereof projecting from the adjacent edges of the panels thereof, the tongues of each strip being permanently secured fiatwise to adjacent panels of the strip or strips in contact therewith, the collapsed partition being adapted to be set up by bending the strips along their score lines to bring their panels into cell forming relation, said tongues being located at the corners of the cells in the set-up position of said partition with the tongue of each cell forming panel extending straight from the cell formed in part thereby into an adjacent cell.

2. A ccilapsible celiular partition for containers comprising a plurality of superimposed partition strips provided with substantially S-shaped cross slits and score lines extending from the ends of said slits to the side marginal edges of said strips, said slits and score lines dividing the said strips into cross panels with tongues projecting from the adjacent edges thereof in planes thereof, the tongues of the panels of each strip being permanently secured flatwise to adjacent panels of the strip or strips in contact therewith, the collapsed partiti-on being adapted to be set up by bending said strips along their score lines to bring their panels into cell forming relation, said tongues being located adjacent to the corners of said oeils and being disposed in the planes of the panels from which they project in both collapsed and set-up positions of said partition.

A'collapsible cellular partition for containers comprising a plurality of superimposed partition strips provided with substantially S-shaped cross slits 4and score lines extending from the ends of said slits to the side-marginal edges of said strips, said slits and score lines -dividing said strips into cross panels with tongues and notches along the adjacent edges thereof in the planes thereoi, the tongues of the panels of each strip 'seing permanently secured atwise to adjacent panels of the strip or strips in contact'therewith, the collapsible partition being adapted to be set up by bending said strips substantially at right anglesv along their transverse score lines to bring the panels into cell forming relation, said tongues being located adjacent to the corners of the cells in the set-up position or" said partition and extending through said notches in said position from one cell to an adjacent cell.

4. A coliapsible cellular partition for containers comp-rising a plurality of superimposed partition strips provided with substantially S-shaped cross siits and score lines extending from the ends ci said slits to the side marginal edges of said strips, said slits and score lines dividing said strips into cross panels with tongues and notches along the adjacent edges thereof in the planes thereof, the tongues of the panels of each strip being-permanently secured atwise to adjacent paneis of the strip or strips in contact therewith, the collapsible partition being adapted to be set up by bending said strips substantially at right angles along their longitudinal score lines to bring the panels into cell forming relation,said tongues being located adjacent to the corners ci the oeils in the set-up position of saidpartition and extending through said notches in said position from one cell to an adjacent cell, said tongues lying in the planes of the panels from which they extend in both collapsed and set-up positions of said partition.

5, A collapsible cellular partition for containers comprising a plurality of superimposed strips provided with cross slits and score lines extending from the ends of said slits to the side marginal edges of said strips, said slits and score lines dividing said strips into a plurality of cross panels, the slits of said strips being shaped to form tongues one along each of the two adjacent edges of the panels thereof, the tongues of each strip being permanently secured flatwise to the strip or strips in contact therewith, the collapsed partition being adapted to be set up by bending the strips along their score lines to bring their panels into cell forming relation with each panel forming one complete side of a cell, said panels having vertical rows of outstanding cushioning bosses on opposite side faces thereof.

6. A collapsible cellular partition for containers comprising a plurality of superimposed strips provided with cross slits and score lines extending from the ends of said slits to the side marginal edges of said strips, said slits and score lines dividing said strips into a plurality of cross'panels, the slits of said strips being shaped to form tongues one along each of the two adjacent edges of the panels thereof, the tongues of each strip being permanently secured flatwise to the strip or strips in contact therewith, the collapsed partition being adapted to be set up by bending the strips along their score lines to bring their panels into cell forming relation with each panel forming one complete side of a cell, said panels having outstanding cushioning portions on opposite side faces thereof, said cushioning portions comprising vertical rows of hollow hemispherical bosses pressed in said panels from opposite sides thereof and adapted to be brought into nested relation in the collapsed position of said partition.

7. A collapsible cellular partition for containers comprising a plurality of superimposed partition strips divided into a plurality of cross panels and connected together so that the partition may be collapsed or opened into cell forming position, said panels having outstanding cushioning portions on opposite side faces thereof, said cushioning portions comprising vertical rows of hollow bosses pressed in said panels from opposite sides thereof and adapted to be brought into nested relation in the collapsed position of said partition, said bosses being arranged in two alternating series from top to bottom of said partition with the bosses of one series projecting on one side of the panels and the bosses of the other series projecting on the other side thereof.

WALTER C. GEORGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 380,960 Walker Apr. 10, 1888 657,285 I-Iansell Sept. 4, 1900 748,624 Lewis Jan. 5, 1904 1,137,732 Alfred May 4, 1915 1,382,787 Bombard June 28, 192,1 2,346,788 Rice Apr. 18, 1944 

